(BGF) – Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was named the World Leader in Cybersecurity for his “exemplary leadership and contributions in promoting cybersecurity in Japan and Asia” in the Global Cybersecurity Day event which was held on December 12 at Harvard Faculty Club.

Watch the Governor Dukakis’ remarks here:

Mr. Tsutomu Himeno, Consulate-General of Japan in Boston, expressed his thank you on behalf of Prime Minister Abe and said that the award is a great encouragement.

I am pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s World Leader in Cybersecurity Award—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The World Leader in Cybersecurity Award is given to individuals who contribute significantly to the advancement of cybersecurity.

Prime Minister Abe has worked tirelessly to make cybersecurity a priority in Japan and in the international community. Japan’s private sector particularly was still lagging in its cybersecurity efforts.

Recognizing the problem, and looking ahead to next year’s G7 Summit, which will be held in Japan, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Abe has made cybersecurity a top policy priority.

Under his leadership, Japan recently held the “Cyber3 Conference” in partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF). The Prime Minister has initiated and led the creation cabinet-level office to oversee national policy and promote international cooperation, in accordance with the Cybersecurity Basic Act enacted a year ago. And this year, the Prime Minister announced Japan’s Cybersecurity Strategy, a far- reaching plan to strengthen public-private efforts in the cybersecurity efforts. In the strategy, Japan announced an ambitious diplomatic initiative focusing on international rules and inter-governmental capacity building.

Prime Minister Abe has also exerted regional leadership in cybersecurity, engaging in capacity building through the cooperation between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

These and other efforts have put Prime Minister Abe in the forefront among world leaders in advancing the cause of cybersecurity. The Boston Global Forum is honored to present recognize him as a World Leader in Cybersecurity Award.